Pressed Juicery New Freeze: Dragon Fruit

Fro-yo girl here. It’s been awhile since Pressed came out with a new Freeze flavor – Blood Orange was the last new flavor and that was released in January 2020. They also introduced acai bowls in July 2020; the acai which comes out of the soft serve machine, so it’s a lot like Freeze.

Dragon Fruit Freeze is available as a Freeze (with toppings) or as a smoothie bowl (same product – it either comes in a cup or a bowl). The soft serve has a beautiful blush pink color. It’s much creamier and smoother than the Freeze flavors that are made with almond milk. Dragon Fruit Freeze is made with oat milk, dragon fruit puree, coconut cream, mango puree, strawberry puree, agave, monk fruit, lemon juice, pea protein, and sea salt. Dragon fruit doesn’t have a strong flavor, so I mostly tasted the mango and coconut. There was another taste and I was tempted to say that dragon fruit tastes like strawberry, only I see that they added strawberry to Dragon Fruit Freeze (I didn't know that there was strawberry when I tasted Dragon Fruit Freeze). Anyway, it was sweeter than I expected and did not have any tang. I think people will like the creaminess of Dragon Fruit Freeze.

Ingredients: Oat Milk (Water Oat Flour, Natural Flavor), Red Dragon Fruit Puree, Coconut Cream, Mango Puree, Strawberry Puree, Agave, Monk Fruit (Erythritol, Monk Fruit Extract), Lemon Juice, Pea Protein, Sea Salt.

Dragon Fruit Freeze is available while supplies last for a limited time.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Yogurtland Closes First Irvine Shop

Fro-yo girl here. Remember how shocked I was when the original Yogurtland location in Fullerton, CA closed last October? I was also surprised to learn that Yogurtland’s first location in Irvine, CA closed for good. While the Fullerton location was the first, Yogurtland Irvine on Jeffrey Road opened in 2007, only a year after Yogurtland Fullerton. Since then, Irvine became Yogurtland’s town. It’s where you’ll find Yogurtand headquarters and the highest density of Yogurtland locations.

It was hard to track permanent vs. temporary closures during the coronavirus pandemic. When Yogurtland Irvine/Jeffrey Rd. closed last September, it seemed like a temporary closure. The closure was never announced on their social media accounts. Their last Facebok post was made in August 2020.

The last time I visited the location, in 2019, they were testing fancy froyo cones. I was excited to try the cones but I never saw them offered at other Yogurtland locations. Yogurtland Irvine – Jeffrey Rd. was a location where Yogurtland tested new products. Back in 2015, they served breakfast.

There are still multiple Yogurtland locations open in Irvine but there’s something special about the first one.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* YOGURTLAND: 14775 Jeffrey Rd, Ste J, Irvine, CA 92618

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Little Jasmine Brown Sugar Milk Tea Boba Ice Cream Review

Fro-yo girl here. Boba ice cream bars were all the rage but scoopable boba ice cream isn’t as common. On a recent trip to Hmart in Arcadia, I spotted two scoopable boba ice cream products, Little Jasmine Boba Ice Cream and HT Black Sugar Bubble Tea Ice Cream. Little Jasmine is a women-owned, California company. They make a variety of products, including frozen buns, vegan jerky, tea, roasted seaweed, and jelly candy.

A pint of Little Jasmine Brown Sugar Milk Tea Boba Ice Cream was $6.99 on sale (regular price $8.99) at H Mart in Arcadia, CA.

Brown Sugar Milk Tea Boba Ice Cream: The ice cream was white with a few thin brown sugar streaks and some triangular pieces of boba. The boba was the best part because they were a bit bigger, denser, and chewier than the boba one normally finds in boba ice cream. They reminded me of mochi/rice cakes. They also tasted good (sweet brown sugar). The ice cream part was creamy and a little airy. It tasted like plain ice cream though they did add condensed milk (I couldn’t really tell). The small amount of brown sugar swirls added subtle brown sugar flavor when they were encountered. I didn't see or taste tea, despite the product name. One serving, which is 2/3 cup, is 200 calories, 8g total fat, 30g total carbs, 25g sugars, and 3g protein.

4 out of 5 stars.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* HMART: 1101 W Huntington Dr., Arcadia, CA 91007

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Yogurtland’s New Summer Flavor: Passion Orange Guava Tart

Fro-yo girl here. Yogurtland is introducing a new summer flavor, Passion Orange Guava Tart. POG jogged my memory…back in 2013, Yogurtland introduced POG sorbet during Flavor Quest. That was a long time ago, 8 years ago. I don’t remember it too clearly. I wonder if they used the same POG flavoring? The orange flavoring seemed stronger this time around but it’s hard to remember back that far. Passion Orange Guava Tart: Yogurtland describes it as, “With real passion fruit, orange, and guava, this flavor is the perfect combination to bring the tropical islands right to your spoon.” It’s pretty tangy, tangier than plain tart. I could definitely taste the guava, then the orange. The combination reminded me of a slightly bitter grapefruit but sweeter. It’s better as a tart froyo than a sorbet because it’s tangy (the sorbet wasn’t) and less icy. Recommended toppings: Fresh fruit, granola, mochi, popping boba.

Passion Orange Guava Tart froyo is nonfat, gluten-free, and Vitamin C fortified.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

New Menchie’s Cake My Day! Spoons

Fro-yo girl here. It’s been awhile since Menchie’s released new collectible froyo spoons. The last new ones were the Best Friends spoons for summer 2020. The new summer 2021 spoons are light purple. The spoon features Menchie holding a cake on the handle. There’s an image of a cake slice where the bowl is. On the handle it says Cake My Day! The back of the spoon shows the back of Menchie and the back of the cake. Very cute!

Menchie is reminding you that froyo cakes are a delicious way to celebrate graduations and Father's Day. And any day...

These collectible spoons are available for a limited time only, while supplies last.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Menchie’s Featured Flavors for June: Blood Orange Sorbet and Vegan Mixed Berry Made with Oat Milk

Fro-yo girl here. Plant-based continues to be big news in the froyo world and this month, Menchie’s has two new vegan, plant-based flavors. First, Menchie’s new Vegan Mixed Berry made with Oat Milk is their first flavor made with oat milk. They describe the flavor as featuring “ripe strawberries and juicy blueberries” and it contains no artificial flavors, no artificial colors and no high fructose corn syrup.

The second featured flavor is the new Blood Orange Sorbet is vegan and made with no artificial flavors, no artificial colors and no high fructose corn syrup.

The Menchie’s location that I visited had the two new flavors and new spoons but no official new flavor signs or flavor posters.

Vegan Mixed Berry: This was thicker and creamier than the Blood Orange Sorbet. I could taste the berry flavors but it didn’t taste like a berry froyo made with dairy. The aftertaste was slightly bitter and there was no tang. It was okay but vegans may like the creamy texture. Recommended toppings: Fresh fruit and granola. I could see this flavor being used in a smoothie bowl.

Blood Orange Sorbet: A pretty red orange color, blood orange sorbet had a icy, loose texture that melted quickly. It tasted different than oranges, sweeter and different – more berry like, maybe. It’s hard to describe. It was a bit too sweet for me. Recommended toppings: Fresh fruit, popping boba.

The theme for this month’s flavors is fresh, light, and plant-based.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Orange County Froyo Guide: Huntington Beach

 

Cool King

Fro-yo girl here. Huntington Beach in Orange County, a city of 200,000 inhabitants is known for its beaches and surf culture. It’s also been the home of many froyo shops, past and present. Great American Yogurt, 19073 Beach Blvd, was one of the oldest, if not the oldest froyo shop, in Huntington Beach. The family-owned shop closed in late 2019. I’m not sure when it first opened. Golden Spoon, 8915 Atlanta Ave Ste A, is still open and has been serving Huntington Beach since 1996. It’s still counter serve and keeping up the old school froyo flame. Golden Spoon is a chain that started in Southern California.

There are four remaining self-serve froyo shops.

• Cool King, 7011 Warner Ave, is the independent self-serve shop that opened in 2014. Like Yogurtland, it offers 16 self-serve froyo flavors a day. During my visit, I was impressed with the froyo texture, range of toppings, cleanliness, and customer service.
• Holsom by Yogurtland, 7598 Edinger Ave. is the remodeled and renamed concept from Yogurtland that opened in November 2020. Holsom by Yogurtland offers wholesome, delicious and affordable options including hot and cold beverages (no coffee), savory toasts, sweet toasts, grain bowls, acai bowls and Yogurtland soft serve froyo, ice cream, and sorbet. This the currently the only Holsom by Yogurtland location.
• Yogurtland, 9961 Adams Ave., opened in 2008. It was the first Yogurtland in Huntington Beach.
• Yogurtland, 18525 Main St., opened in Five Points Plaza in 2016. It was the third Yogurtland location to open in Huntington Beach. The location on Edinger opened in 2013.

Here’s the list of former froyo shops in Huntington Beach:

• 33 Degrees Gelato & Yogurt, 10061 Adams Ave # 101, from 2011-2014. The successor to Yo Yum Yum added gelato and continued to offer self-serve froyo. The space is now occupied by Poki Poki.
• Beach Cities Yogurt & Gelato, 16895 Beach Blvd, from 2007-2009: Known as the first tart froyo shop in HB, Beach Cities had froyo and gelato. It was the only Shakeaway in Orange County.
• Cefiore, 200 Main St, Ste 109, from 2007-2011: This was the first Cefiore to open in Huntington Beach and it was near the beach. The counter-serve froyo shop specializing in tart froyo was often compared to Pinkberry.
• Cefiore, 6846 Edinger Ave, from 2007-2009: The second Cefiore to open in Huntington Beach received favorable reviews while it was open.
• Cherry on Top, 7011 Warner Ave, 2008-2014: This was a popular self-serve froyo shop. In 2014, Cool King took over the space. In between Cherry On Top and Cool King, it was called Super Cool briefly.
• Fresh Yogurt, 16556 Bolsa Chica St., from 2010-2013: This self-serve froyo shop offered 10 flavors a day.
• Menchie’s, 19694 Beach Blvd, from 2008-2016: This location offered 14 self-serve froyo flavors a day.
• Pinkberry, 7811 Edinger Ave #116, located in Bella Terra, 2007-2017: Ten years of swirling – not too shabby. It was counter-serve and it sounds like it was dirty and run down towards the end.
• Shakeaway, 120 5th St, from 2015-2018: The global UK milkshake chain was not technically a froyo shop but they did offer froyo. I went there once but the froyo machine was out of order and they didn’t know when it would be fixed (sounded like it had been out of order for awhile). They mixed ingredients into the froyo.
• SweetXO, 7631 Edinger Ave Ste 151, from 2014-2015. The short-lived sweets emporium featured Established in 2012 in California, SweetXO is an independent social, lifestyle and shopping concept self-serve Xogurt, baked goods, soda, candy, apparel, gift and décor items.
• Whipp’d, 15887 Gothard St, from 2014-2017. Named after Dole Whip, Whipp’d offered Dole Whip, Carbolite, shave ice, Blue Bell ice cream, and more.
• Yo Yum Yum, 10061 Adams Ave # 101, from 2008-2011: Another self-serve froyo chain, Yo Yum Yum had a few locations in Southern California. The Huntington Beach location it was renamed 33 Degrees Gelato & Yogurt in 2011.
• YogiBella, 15887 Gothard St, from 2013-2014.The self-serve froyo shop also offered juices and smoothies.
• YogiBerry, 15887 Gothard St, from 2011-2013. YogiBerry was sold in 2013 and became YogiBella.

As the home of the first Holsom by Yogurtland and the only Shakeaway in Orange County, Huntington Beach has seen plenty of froyo activity.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.